Not bad for the first time

Despite the kiln being too hot at the front and too cold at the back. There was some pleasing results when I unpacked it late this afternoon. There will be a number of modifications I will make before the next firing in this kiln. This was the first firing in this kiln and there is a bit to learn to get operating optimally - not bad though, I am happy.

Full blast

I was able to get cone 12 down at the front of the kiln but much cooler at the back. I will have to look into how I can get this more even. Now I will just have to wait until its cool enough to unpack.

Begin reduction?

My pyrometer is reading 650 but cone 06 is down at the front ( top and bottom - 991. It looks that hot at the from however much cooler at the back of the kiln.

Getting hot

Firing going well have been in reduction ( limiting the amount of oxygen) for several hours. Looks hot but no action in the cones just yet.

Off to a good start

It was 7 degrees at 5 am this morning. I have started a fire under the grate and things are going well. It is slightly cloudy but hopefully the clouds won't bring rain.

Got packing

Packed all the work ready to be fired tomorrow. The kiln took more than expected. Finished packing and bricked in the door by 8.30 pm. I started packing at 3.

No trees were harmed

No trees will be harmed (at least not by me) in preparation for tomorrow's firing. I have collected a large amount of iron bark and pine. The iron bark was left by sleeper cutters and the pine has come from small trees which my grandfather "ringed barked" years ago.
I just now need to cut it all up!

Glazing pots

The bisque firing went well and today I applied glaze to these pieces. I have been experimenting with various glaze combinations for some time and continue to do so. I have to remember to carefully record the different glazes used on each pot in my journal. I am using nine different glazes in various combinations for this firing.

Busy making new work

I have spent the last week or so making pieces for the next firing. I have now made approx 25 pieces which are now being bisque fired. The recent wet weather slowed down the drying process somewhat but I eventually got them dry enough to fire ( I hope). I am pushing it - trying to get these pieces into next Wednesday's firing.

Kiln Construction: Day 6 & 7

 Due to the high amount of rainfall I wasn't able to commence work on the kiln again until Easter. So I spent Good Friday and Easter Saturday getting the kiln almost finished. I built the walls and added an additional metre to the height of the chimney.


Adding walls.

Wall, stoke hole and door.

Adding exterior wall.

  

End of day 6.



Adding additional height to the chimney.

Kiln just before sealing chimney with mud.

I now plan to return to fire the kiln very soon. I do however, need to create some work to go in it, prepare the wood and put a final layer of insulation (clay & sawdust) over the arch of the kiln.

Kiln Construction: Day 5

I set about constructing the dampers, chimney and removing the arch form during day five. This time without any major mishaps.

Constructing the dampers

Dampers for the chimney and passive dampers at the base were included

Kiln with the arch form removed

First section of the chimney added

Kiln Construction: Day 4

I returned to Canberra after day three. I didn't return until mid January when there was a cool change. This time I needed to complete the dampers and chimney. I had a slight mishap however, I got a bit too eager and tried to remove the form from the arch by myself. The form twisted when I tried to remove it and knocked the whole arch and firebox down. I had to reconstruct the firebox and arch all over again!  This error cost me an extra day.

Oops! Start again...Kiln cleared ready to rebuild.

Reconstruction of the arch take two.

Front of the kiln with extra layer of bricks and stone buttressing